Intel confirms it will not release SoFIA and Broxton SOCs

Intel has confirmed that the planned series of new processors SoFIA and Broxton have been put on hold. The reason for this is that the company is adopting a new strategy that places more emphasis on modems and 5G technology.

A company spokesperson said in a statement issued to Anandtech. Broxton was to be the successor to the Cherry Trail series, and was intended for high-end smartphones and tablets. The SoFIA series was specifically intended for cheaper smartphones. Both new processor series appeared on a roadmap earlier this year.

Due to a reorganization, Intel has had to shift its priorities, which means that mobile SOCs are no longer on the schedule. The spokesperson said that more will be used on wireless technology, with modems with 5G technology in particular being the focus. More emphasis is also being placed on cloud services and data centers, ‘connected’ devices including PCs and the Internet of Things, memory and programmable chips such as FPGAs.

With the reporting, Intel confirms rumors that surfaced earlier this week. While the company has invested heavily in developing SOCs for mobile devices in recent years, competition from companies such as Qualcomm has proved tough. That may have played a part in the decision to divest the two new processor series.